LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18642, 25 February 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Main Trunk cacpress, which left for Wellington list,; evening, v carried v nearly 500. passengers. *:, The train consisted of 17 passenger f carriages, , including three sleeping cars.

: ;: So impressive : was the display of cars parked at the : entrance to ; Prince's Wharf on . Saturday evening, that it seemed as though there were two Motor Olympias in progress. Along an extended front, and stretching, far back six " deep, every class and make of car was to be seen in the long lines of vehicles, which must have numbered between ■ 300 and 400. With so large a volume of traffic converging upon the one central point, the problem of parking was no light one, and it says much for the efficiency of the Harbour Board's traffic officers, who were in charge of the arrangements, that this solid phalanx of cars was so deftly and conveniently arranged in position.

The H.M.AS. Melbourne, which is berthed at the Prince's Wharf, was open for public inspection yesterday afternoon. Severald thousand people availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting the warship and the crew were kept very busy in showing parties over her. In addition to the people who boarded the warship, largo numbers of spectators viewed her from the adjacent wharves, and cameras were much in evidence.

Splendid supplies of fish have been maintained in Auckland during the past few weeks. During the period of oppressive weather the consumption of fish) as is usually the case, fell off, but since cooler weather was experienced satisfactory business has been done. The trawler Serfib returned to the harbour yesterday after trawling in the gulf, with a good catch, while the various units of Sanford's fleet have all been bringing in good hauls lately.

The rainfall of the past week has had an appreciable effect on the growth of dowers and plants in the various parks and reserves of the city and suburbs. The recently-formed flowerbeds ' fronting Wellesley Street East in Albert Park have materially benefited by the welcome moisture.

The new boarding establishment recently erected at King's College, Mangere, has provided much-needed accommodation for the many boarders at the college, and already the building is fully occupied. At the last meeting of the Board of Governors, the headmaster Mr. C. T. Major, who has just recently c">t«rnod frwn a 1" months' visit to England, was welcomed. Mr. Major has benefited by his trip abroad, dtrmg which he took the opportunity to observe the trend Of secondary education in GreatBritain.

Following the heat of Friday afternoon there was an unusually calm and clear atmosphere over Auckland city. At various points in the Titirangi and Waitakere Ranges the roaring of the lions at the Zoo was plainly heard during the evening. So favourable were conditions for sound transmission that the playing of a band, the whistles of ferry steamers, and the deep note of a ship's foghorn were quite distinct in Oratia district at the junction of the Titirangi Hills with the main range. The lights of city and harbour are, of course, plainly visible almost any night, and the roar of the city's traffic is*frequently heard, but it is not often that distinct sounds can be picked up.

Slight injuries to the head and back were sustained on Saturday by Mr. Dalton Johnson, a waterside worker, who was engaged in helping to- unload coal from the steamer Wanaka. He was struck on the head by a basket of coal and temporarily stunned.

The state of unemployment in Auckland remained practically unchanged during the week. On Saturday, there were 133 names on the register at the Labour Department, as against 135 for the previous week. Of last week's applicants, 86 were clased as fit for heavy work, and 47 for light work. There were 42 labourers out of work, 17 horse and motor drivers, 15 handymen, 11 engineers, fitters and turners, and 10 clerks. During, the week, 28 men were placed in private employment, and six with the Public Works Department.

Good progress is being made with the erection of the railway over-bridge at Kingsland, and it is anticipated by the Railway Department that the work will be completed by the end of March. The approach work yet remains to be done, and for this purpose several additional railway sidings have been installed, so that the scoria, which is brought from the railway quarries at Mount Albert, can be "tapped" to the best advantage. Tho present railway line is soon to be shifted so that grains : will then pass beneath the over-bridge, instead of as at present, at the side. When this is done, the approach from New North Road will be proceeded with. The formation of the new roads is also being prosecuted with vigour.

The electric reticulation of the Mount Albert borough is proceeding steadily, and many parts of the district have been linked up. Work in the Edendale district has now reached Kenneth Avenue, and the large heaps of poles deposited in other thoroughfares suggest their speedy connection.

The request made by the Tamaki West Road Board to have tho name of its district changed to that of "Tamaki" has been granted by the Governor-General, and a proclamation to that effect has been published in the Gazette. The alteration will not take effect until September 1, 1924.

The Maungakawa drainage district in the County of Piako, constituted in February, 1922, has been abolished as from February 21 last, according to a proclamation published in the Gazette. This action has been taken as the result of a petition signed by a majority of the ratepayers in the drainage district.

The maximum penalty of £10 was imposed upon a defendant at the Police Court m Wellington for driving a motorcar at a speed dangerous to the public. Sub-Inspector Cummings stated that the defendant had severely damaged his car through a collision and had also suffered personal injury.

A very hot and sultry day was experienced in Christchurch on Thursday last. The temperature in the shade reached a maximum of 89.7 at 10.45 p.m. . At 10.30 a.m. the mercury reached 87.2, but fell again as the sky became overcast and a nor'-wester sprang up. Shortly after midday the sky cleared, and the temperature commenced to rise steadily until 1.45 p.m., when the maximum was attained. It kept near this mark until about 3.15 p.m., when a sudden drop of 8 degrees occurred. The registration of 89.7 degrees in the shade constitutes a record February' temperature for the last 22 years, so far as Christchurch is , concerned.

"Since I have been in New Zealand I have seen little notes and letters in the newspapers calling attention to the delinquencies of various British manufacturers," said Mr. Noel Elmslic, British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, during the course of an informal chat with the council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. "Doing a 'grouse* of that sort does nobody any good/' he added. Where there was any real difficulty generally there was some explanation, and he felt that in his capacity as Trade Commissioner he could do a lot in adjusting difficulties that might arise. Taking hold of the difficulties and endeavouring to clear them away was his real' job in New Zealand, " • ' l <